The Carolina Hurricanes return to the ice Friday at 7 p.m. against the New Jersey Devils for “Opening Night 2” at the RBC Center. The Hurricanes opened the 2006-07 season on Wednesday with a 3-2 shootout loss against the Buffalo Sabres. The Hurricanes will travel to Washington following Friday’s game for a Saturday evening meeting against their division rival, the Washington Capitals.

Friday’s game will be telecast on FSN South, the Hurricanes’ cable television partner. It is the first of 57 Hurricanes games FSN South will carry this season. Prior to the game, fans can enjoy a party on the RBC Center’s south lawn beginning at 4:30 p.m., live music from the band Rubberband starting at 5 p.m. and parking lots will begin opening at 2:30 p.m. Hurricanes Radio Network flagship station Y102.9 FM will broadcast live from the tent party. The Hurricanes will again pay tribute to the 2005-06 championship season prior to the game and the Stanley Cup, Prince of Wales Trophy, Conn Smythe Trophy and Selke Trophy will be on display during the game.

Captain Rod Brind’Amour is one assist shy of 600 assists for his NHL career

Head Coach Peter Laviolette is one game shy of 300 NHL games coached

Carolina Notes

In Carolina’s regular-season opener against Buffalo on Monday, winger Ray Whitney earned the first assists on goals by linematesEric Staaland Erik Cole. Whitney posted 17 goals and 38 assists (55 points) in 2005-06, his first season with the Hurricanes.

In 2005-06, center Eric Staalled the Hurricanes with 45 goals and 55 assists while playing in all 82 regular-season games. He also led the NHL in the postseason posting 29 points. In Wednesday’s season opener against Buffalo, Staal picked up where he left off, notching Carolina’s first goal of the season. Staal’s linemate Erik Cole ranked fourth among Hurricanes goal scorers with 30 markers in 2005-06 despite missing the last 22 games of the regular season with a neck injury. Cole notched his first goal of 2006-07 during a 5-on-3 power play in Wednesday’s game.

CAROLINA AT HOME: 0-0-1 CAROLINA ON THE ROAD: 0-0-0 CAROLINA ON THE POWER PLAY: 1-of-9 (11.1%)CAROLINA SHORTHANDED: 9-of-9 (100.0%)

Injury Report

Defenseman Frantisek Kaberle, shoulder, out

Left wing Cory Stillman, shoulder, out

Against the Devils

Tonight’s game marks the first of four meetings between the Hurricanes and the Devils. The two teams met four times during the 2005-06 season with Carolina posting a 2-1-1 record. The teams also met in the 2006 Eastern Conference Semifinals with Carolina emerging with a 4-1 win in the best-of-seven series.

Rod Brind’Amour (3g, 1a), Matt Cullen (1g, 3a) and Cory Stillman (0g, 4a) led all Hurricanes skaters with four points in the four-game regular-season series between the teams in 2005-06 while Brian Gionta (2g, 3a) led the Devils. The Hurricanes post a 36-43-13-1 all-time regular-season record against the Devils with a 19-18-9 home record and a 17-25-4-1 record in on the road.